Abstract
In the bone graft, there is an antigen-antibody reaction between the grafted bone and the recipient as one of the factors determining the results.
The authors grafted several kinds of preserved bones, which have been used clinically, to the ulna of the rabbit in order to know appearance of antibody. Precipitin reaction. using serum dilution overlaid method was carried out upon the sera obtained from the rabbits periodically. At the same time, we observed clinical course of osseal fusion by X-ray and obtained the following results.
1) In the case of fresh autogeneous bone graft, precipitin reaction was negative. By X-ray examination osseal fusion was complete in the 4 th week.
2) Titer of precipitin reaction upon heterogeneous preserved bone graft rose rapidly from the third week and it did not decline even in the 6 th week. This is obvious from the poitn mechanism of antigen-antibody reaction which was developed by heterogeneous protein. The X-ray findings showed tendency of separation and necrosis of the grafted bone.
3) As the preservatives for homogeneous preserved bone Hibiten or Merthiolate solution (both 0.1% solution) was used. In both experiments precipitin reaction developed in the second week and the titer was low. In the 6th week, in the majority of the animals the reaction disappeared but in some cases weak reaction remained. Osseal fusion was complete in the 6 th week. No differences in the results due to preservatives used were able to recognize.
4) The Boplant and Kiel Bone were used as the heterogeneous deproteinized bone graft. In the Boplant case, weak precipitin reaction developed in the second week, and the reaction could be detected until the 6 th week, while the reaction was hardly seen throughout if the Kiel Bone was applied for a bone graft. This is thought to be due to difference of degree of deproteinization. Osseal fusion of this heterogeneous bone graft took fairly longer time than the homogeneous preserved bone graft, even so osseal fusion in the deproteinized bone graft was almost complete in the 10 th week. According to the X-ray findings, the Boplant graft showed stimulating effect to the transplanting base and promoted callus formation, while the Kiel Bone graft displayed bone formation as the form of substitution.
5) In the above stated experimental studies on the bone graft, whether precipitin reaction may develop or not could be one of the factors managing the results of bone transplantation, however, the fact that degree of precipitin reaction exhibited no particular correlation between successful osseal fusion and unsuccessful one, was reconfirmed.
